The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is set to become a cornerstone of cybersecurity compliance for the EU’s financial sector. With full enforcement starting today, January 17, 2025, DORA ensures that financial institutions and their ICT service providers can withstand, respond to, and recover from ICT-related disruptions.

The regulation requires financial entities to implement robust frameworks for risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing, and third-party oversight. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational damage.

This guide explores the key requirements of DORA and how next-generation Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) platforms can help organizations meet and exceed these regulatory standards.

What Does DORA Require?

DORA introduces comprehensive rules for financial institutions, focusing on four primary areas:

  1. ICT Risk Management: Ensuring risks to ICT systems are identified, assessed, and mitigated.
  2. Incident Reporting: Reporting ICT-related disruptions within strict timelines.
  3. Resilience Testing: Conducting regular testing to ensure operational readiness.
  4. Third-Party Oversight: Managing and monitoring ICT service providers, including critical suppliers.

Compliance with DORA demands proactive, intelligence-driven cybersecurity measures. Here’s how CTI can make a difference.

1. ICT Risk Management: Proactive Defense Against Threats

DORA requires organizations to adopt robust risk management frameworks that address threats to ICT systems. KELA provides:

  • Threat Visibility: KELA continuously monitors open, deep, and dark web sources to identify emerging threats targeting your organization or industry.
  • Attack Surface Discovery: By mapping external-facing assets, KELA’s platform identifies vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and exposed systems before attackers can exploit them.
  • Vulnerability Prioritization: KELA highlights which vulnerabilities are actively being exploited, enabling organizations to focus on the most critical risks.

2. Incident Reporting: Meeting Regulatory Timelines

DORA mandates strict timelines for reporting ICT-related incidents. CTI enhances incident response by:

  • Early Detection: Identifying Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and warning of emerging threats ensures faster detection of potential incidents.
  • Detailed Incident Context: KELA’s platform offers visual analysis, providing insights into the nature of the attack, the threat actor involved, and their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
  • Root-Cause Analysis: Understanding the root cause of incidents helps organizations not only report effectively but also prevent recurrence.

3. Third-Party Risk and Vendor Monitoring

Third-party oversight is a critical component of DORA, as financial institutions increasingly rely on ICT service providers. KELA supports this by:

  • Third-Party Risk Monitoring: KELA’s Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) module continuously assesses vendor security postures, monitoring for leaked credentials, compromised systems, or vulnerabilities discussed on underground forums.
  • Supply Chain Intelligence: Continuous monitoring of the supply chain reveals indirect threats, such as risks associated with third-party providers’ own suppliers.
  • Dark Web Alerts: KELA uncovers discussions, breaches, or data leaks involving vendors, allowing organizations to address risks proactively.

4. Resilience Testing: Building Operational Readiness

Regular resilience testing, including penetration testing, is a key requirement under DORA. KELA strengthens these efforts by:

  • Threat-Informed Testing: Use KELA’s enhanced discovery insights to design realistic testing scenarios based on actual attack methods used by adversaries targeting the financial sector.
  • Ongoing Validation: KELA’s vulnerability verification capabilities ensure that newly identified vulnerabilities during testing are promptly addressed, maintaining operational readiness.

5. Attack Surface Discovery: Enhancing Visibility

DORA emphasizes the need to secure all digital assets, including those exposed to external threats. KELA helps by:

  • Mapping the Attack Surface: KELA’s discovery tools identify internet-facing assets and weak points attackers could exploit, providing a comprehensive view of the organization’s digital footprint.
  • Uncovering Hidden Risks: Detect shadow IT, misconfigurations, or forgotten assets that could pose significant risks.
  • Prioritizing Defenses: Focus resources on securing the most critical points of exposure, ensuring compliance with DORA’s ICT risk management requirements.

Why CTI Is Essential for DORA Compliance

DORA is not just another regulatory checkbox—it is a framework designed to create resilience in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Cyber Threat Intelligence enables organizations to:

  • Anticipate Risks: Gain a proactive view of the threat landscape, enabling early identification and mitigation of risks.
  • Monitor Vendors and Third Parties: Maintain visibility over supply chain risks, ensuring that third-party relationships do not become a liability.
  • Respond Quickly and Effectively: Enhance incident reporting and response times with actionable intelligence and detailed context.
  • Secure the Attack Surface: Map and protect your entire digital footprint, reducing exposure to external threats.

KELA: Your All-in-One Solution for DORA Compliance

With KELA’s advanced platform, your organization gains access to:

  • Cyber Threat Intelligence: Comprehensive insights into threats targeting your organization.
  • External Attack Surface Discovery: Complete visibility into your digital footprint.
  • Third-Party Risk Management: Continuous monitoring of your vendors and supply chain risks.
  • Vulnerability Intelligence: Real-time prioritization of actively exploited weaknesses.
  • Threat Actor Profiling: Deep insights into adversaries’ tactics, techniques, and procedures.
  • Breach and Attack Simulation and Verification: Test and validate your security controls against real-world attack scenarios.

Get Started with KELA Today

Prepare your organization for DORA compliance with no strings attached. Book a meeting with a KELA expert and receive a comprehensive report tailored to your organization’s specific needs—completely free.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Now and take the first step toward building operational resilience and ensuring regulatory compliance.